Detection of herpes simplex virus DNA in human tear film by the polymerase chain reaction.

We investigated the use of the polymerase chain reaction for detecting genomes of herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, and cytomegalovirus from tear film of patients with clinically diagnosed herpes simplex virus keratitis. Using the polymerase chain reaction with a herpes simplex virus detection sensitivity adjusted to 1.0 plaque-forming units/ml, we detected herpes simplex virus genomic sequences in 12 of 12 epithelial keratitis specimens, two of six stromal keratitis specimens, but in none of 20 normal specimens.

[Bacterial flora of the respiratory tract in patients with long term tracheostomy--colonization of the lower respiratory tract by Pseudomonas aeruginosa].

Throat secretions (TS) and bronchial secretions aspirated from tracheostomy sites (TSTA) from six subjects with long term tracheostomy were simultaneously collected and then cultured every two weeks from January, 1990, to December, 1992. Isolated bacteria were mainly alpha-streptococci (96.2%) and Neisseria (69.

Reactive oxygen species involved in phenazine-methosulfate-induced rat lens opacification. An experimental model of cataract.

The excised rat crystalline lens opacified when incubated aerobically with phenazine methosulfate, but no opacification was observed under anaerobic conditions. Morphological studies revealed development of opacification in the cortex. The opacification resembled that often seen in the early period of senile cataract as well as in naphthalene-induced and UV cataract.

Suppression of graft rejection in rat keratoepithelioplasty by anterior chamber inoculation of donor lymphocytes.

A newly developed model of keratoepithelioplasty (KEP) in the rat was used to analyze the effect of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation on the suppression of corneal allograft rejection. The right eyes of Fisher rats received an anterior chamber (AC) injection of lymphocyte suspension from Dark Agouti (DA) rats (DAL group) or phosphate-buffered saline (positive control group). Seven days later, DA corneal lenticules were grafted onto both eyes of the recipients.

Circadian rhythm of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in the iris-ciliary body of the rat.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like immunoreactivity (LI) in the iris-ciliary body of rats kept under constant darkness (DD) and in 12 h light-12 h dark cycle (LD) was determined by enzyme immunoassay. NPY-LI contents in the iris-ciliary body were found to oscillate in circadian fashion under DD and LD conditions, with a peak at about circadian time 12 (CT 12) and a trough at around CT 0. Unilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy caused a significant decrease in NPY-LI levels in the sympathectomized eye compare to the contralateral intact eye, independent of lighting phase.

[Study of bacterial flora in the stomach and the upper and lower respiratory tracts--the mechanism of lower respiratory tract infection].

To evaluate the mechanism of lower respiratory tract infection in the hospital, gastric juice, throat secretions, secretions in tracheal cannulae or tubes and aspirated sputum were cultured simultaneously in seven patients with tracheostomy and seven patients with tracheal intubation. Thirty-six strains of bacteria were isolated from gastric juice and only 22.2% of them were the same bacteria as those in the throat secretions.

[Retinal toxicity of intravitreally injected steroids on the rabbit eye].

The retinal toxicity of intravitreally injected steroids, fluorometholone and tetrahydrocortisol, was examined. The concentration of the steroids was 20 mg/ml, and 0.05 ml of each solution were injected into the rabbit vitreous cavity.

[Study of the duration of antimicrobial chemotherapy in mycoplasmal pneumonia].

We assessed the period of administration of antibiotics required for cases of mycoplasmal pneumonia. The subjects were 38 patients with mycoplasmal pneumonia admitted to our hospital. These patients were treated with 100 mg minocycline or 500 mg erythromycin by intravenous infusion twice a day.

[Relation of bacterial flora between upper and lower respiratory tracts in patients with long-term tracheostomy].

Throat secretions (TS) and bronchial secretions aspirated from tracheostomy (TSTA) were cultured at the same time in 9 subjects with long term tracheostomy every two weeks from January, 1990 to December, 1990. Total number of each examination in TS and TSTA were 200 times. Mean number of bacteria isolated by single culture were 2.

[Vitreous oxygen tension of proliferative diabetic retinopathy].

The authors investigated the vitreous oxygen tension in 30 eyes of 29 cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients in order to determine the distribution of oxygen tension and the possible role of neovascular tissue in tissue oxygenation. Vitreous oxygen tension was measured using a polarographic oxygen electrode and a PO2 monitoring system (PO-2080). Prior to pars plana vitrectomy, the oxygen electrode was inserted into the vitreous cavity under microscopic observation with dim illumination transmitted fiberoptically.

[Tissue plasminogen activator treatment of postvitrectomy pupillary fibrin membrane].

Twenty-five micrograms of human recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) was injected via the corneoscleral limbus of 14 postvitrectomy aphakic eyes with prominent pupillary fibrin membranes. Fibrinolysis by tPA was initiated by thirty minutes after the injection, and the fibrin membrane was completely dissolved within sixty minutes. No toxicity attributed to tPA was observed clinically.

[Vitreous surgery for intraocular proliferative disorders].

Before the advent of vitreous surgery, many intraocular proliferative disorders were incurable. The present paper reviews the pathogenesis, classification and vitreous surgery treatment of these diseases. Intraocular proliferative disorders are classified into two categories: vascular and non-vascular, also their indications for vitreous surgery are reviewed.

[Neovascularization and surgery].

To explore surgical treatment for intraocular neovascularization, the following basic and clinical studies were performed. An experimental model of intraocular neovascularization was developed by placing a pellet, containing basic fibroblast growth factor, on the rabbit retina. The effects of panretinal photocoagulation, experimental retinal vein obstruction and intravitreal administration of fluorometholone or tetrahydrodeoxycortisol were studied with this experimental model.

[Four cases of simultaneous discovery of familial tuberculous infection].

Index case is a 17-year-old boy who was admitted to our hospital with pleurisy and a minimal pulmonary lesion, and tubercle bacilli were recovered from pleural fluid. A diagnosis of primary tuberculosis was made based on the onset by pleurisy and the existence of hilar and mediastinal lymph node swelling. On the same day, a 76-year-old man, grandfather of the index case was admitted for precise examination of suspected extensive pneumonia.

[The role of thoracoscopy in pleural biopsy in cases with pleural effusion].

Between April 1985 and July 1989, 125 cases with pleural effusion were admitted to our department. The causes of pleural effusion were carcinomatous pleurisy in 47 cases, infection without tuberculosis in 34 cases, tuberculous pleurisy in 17 cases, cardiac insufficiency and hypoproteinemia in 11 cases, trauma and pneumothorax in nine cases, collagen disease in two cases and unknown origin in five cases. Carcinomatous pleurisy and tuberculous pleurisy, the differential diagnosis of which is very important, comprised 37% and 14% of all cases, respectively.

[Difference of clinical features between bacilli positive tuberculosis patients diagnosed at the outpatients dept. (OPD) and diagnosed after admission].

In order to determine the clinical features of patients whose tubercle bacilli were found after admission, the characteristics of 23 cases (17 males, 6 females) diagnosed after admission (Group I) were compared with 16 other cases (12 males, 4 females) diagnosed before admission (Group II). The patients in Group I were more elderly and had severer underlying diseases than those in Group II. In addition, the majority of the patients of Group I showed manifestations of respiratory infections similar to bacterial pneumonia.

[Two cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum due to Xiao-lin Temple boxing vocal exercise].

Two cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema were reported. The first cases was a 21-year-old man who had a past history of recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax. The second was a healthy 20-year-old man.

Hyper-infusion pressure for diabetic membrane dissection.

Vitrectomy was performed on 17 eyes (16 cases) with diabetic macular traction detachment with highly active fibrovascular proliferative tissue. Membrane dissection was performed with the central retinal artery temporarily occluded by hyper-infusion pressure from 82 to 105 mmHg, introduced over a duration of 0.9 to 16.

[Results of vitrectomy for diabetic traction retinal detachment involving the macula; a comparison of six-month and three-year postoperative findings].

Three-year follow-up examinations were performed on 45 cases that underwent pars plana vitrectomies for diabetic retinopathy complications from 1982 to 1983. All of these cases had traction retinal detachment involving the macula. Visual improvement was noted in 27 eyes (60%) and 11 eyes (24%) had worse visual acuity at 6 months after surgery.

[Clinical evaluation of fluconazole in patients with mycotic infection].

Fluconazole, a triazole antifungal agent newly developed by Pfizer Inc.. was given orally to 4 patients with deep mycosis.

Aldose reductase inhibitor (CT-112) eyedrops for diabetic corneal epitheliopathy.

We treated two diabetic patients with corneal epithelial disorder that resisted conventional medical therapy with topical CT-112 (5-[3-ethoxy-4-pentyloxyphenyl]-2,4-thiazolidinedione), a newly synthesized aldose reductase inhibitor. One patient had developed recurrent corneal erosion after vitrectomy and the other had spontaneously developed superficial punctate keratopathy. The corneal lesion in each patient responded to topical CT-112 in two to four weeks and was almost cleared within two months.

Juvenile retinal detachment.

The features and prognoses of 802 cases (908 eyes) of retinal detachment from 8 months to 19 years of age were studied with the patients divided into three age groups: 65 eyes in group I (0-9), 259 eyes in group II (10-14), and 584 eyes in group III (15-19). Eyes in group I were different from the others in many respects. In group I, traumatic detachments, preoperative complications, four-quadrant detachments, and eyes with undetected breaks were more frequent, and the prognosis was worse than in the other groups.